Five Questions About Leadership and Legacies

1. What aspect of college dodgeball made you want to captain an NCDA team?
Well, to be quite honest, I had no idea that the NCDA even existed when my friend Yaser and I founded a dodgeball club at our university. However, when I was contacted by an NCDA member from Western Kentucky University I was, needless to say, overwhelmed with excitement when I learned that our little dodgeball organization was not alone in the world and that we had rubber-slinging brethren that had already formed a league that encompassed a wide array of great institutions across the United States. This is an opportunity that I saw as golden and is certainly one that I do not wish to let slip out of my grasp. The opportunity to captain a team is wonderful beyond words; I hope to bring the excitement and rewards of competition to my teammates and teach them the values of hard work and dedication. When all is said and done I want the players to remember this experience for the rest of their lives and leave with a “Never Say Die” attitude.

2. What are the main principles that you emphasize to your team?
First of all, friendship is key; a team that does not have chemistry between its players will never function properly and never succeed. Secondly, discipline and loyalty are highly emphasized. These two aspects of teamwork are what led the Spartans to be an undefeated war-machine in ancient Greece for nearly 500 years; the principles work the same in any team. With proper discipline and training, and when athletes are held accountable to one another, the result is a team of champions. Finally competitiveness is encouraged, without the will to compete there is no reason whatsoever to be in any form of a competitive league--- duh. I want all my players to bring the fire of Demon spirit to the dodgeball courts and act as warriors with no fear.

3. How do you want your team to remember you after your captaincy is over?
I would like them to remember me as a good leader and an even better friend. I want to teach them the things that will bring them success at any venture in life as in dodgeball or in any other sport. I want to prepare them not just for hurling balls at people, but also to prepare them for the rest of their lives and that they will always remember me as a guy who taught them some important aspects of life.

4. What characteristics will you look for in your successor?
Leadership, Character, Pride, Integrity, Discipline, Positive Attitude; these are desirable traits that any captain should have and will lead to a great team.

5. As a captain, what's your biggest priority for the league going forward?
I want my team to shine out as a beacon for other southern schools to form teams of their own, I want my players to set an example and generate dodgeball excitement that will last for years to come and establish this sport as something legitimate and not just some passing fantasy. The NCDA will hopefully blossom in the deep south and from there the possibilities are endless.